A swagman with his best mates: his dog, billy, swag and pipe. Painted in an impressionist style with thick impasto oil. I like to work on a smooth board because it shows every nuance of the brushstrokes that I make. I am able to convey more detail this way. Influences include Sargent, Rembrandt, and of course, McCubbin. A nice traditional gold frame would complement this picture perfectly. Swagmen have been one of my favourite subjects to paint. I was honoured to be invited as a feature artist at the Waltzing Matilda Centenary Exhibition in Winton, Qld, in 1995.